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Yavuz S, Pucholt P, Sandling JK, Bianchi M, Leonard D, Bolin K, Imgenberg-Kreuz J, Eloranta ML, Kozyrev SV, Lanata CM, Jönsen A, Bengtsson AA, Sjöwall C, Svenungsson E, Gunnarsson I, Rantapää-Dahlqvist S, Nititham J, Criswell LA, Lindblad-Toh K, Rönnblom L. Mer-tyrosine kinase: a novel susceptibility gene for SLE related end-stage renal disease. Lupus Sci Med 2022; 9:e000752. [PMID: 36332927 PMCID: PMC9639142 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2022-000752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common and severe manifestation of SLE. The genetic risk for nephritis and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with LN remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to identify novel genetic associations with LN, focusing on subphenotypes and ESRD. METHODS We analysed genomic data on 958 patients with SLE (discovery cohort: LN=338) with targeted sequencing data from 1832 immunological pathway genes. We used an independent multiethnic cohort comprising 1226 patients with SLE (LN=603) as a replication dataset. Detailed functional annotation and functional epigenomic enrichment analyses were applied to predict functional effects of the candidate variants. RESULTS A genetic variant (rs56097910) within the MERTK gene was associated with ESRD in both cohorts, meta-analysis OR=5.4 (2.8 to 10.6); p=1.0×10-6. We observed decreased methylation levels in peripheral blood cells from SLE patients with ESRD, compared with patients without renal SLE (p=2.7×10-4), at one CpG site (cg16333401) in close vicinity to the transcription start site of MERTK and located in a DNAse hypersensitivity region in T and B cells. Rs56097910 is linked to altered MERTK expression in kidney tissue in public eQTL databases. Two loci were replicated for association with proliferative LN: PRDM1 (rs6924535, pmeta=1.6×10-5, OR=0.58) and APOA1BP (NAXE) (rs942960, pmeta=1.2×10-5, OR=2.64). CONCLUSION We identified a novel genetic risk locus, MERTK, associated with SLE-ESRD using the data from two large SLE cohorts. Through DNA methylation analysis and functional annotation, we showed that the risk could be mediated through regulation of gene expression. Our results suggest that variants in the MERTK gene are important for the risk of developing SLE-ESRD and suggest a role for PRDM1 and APOA1BP in proliferative LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sule Yavuz
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pascal Pucholt
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johanna K Sandling
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Matteo Bianchi
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dag Leonard
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Bolin
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Juliana Imgenberg-Kreuz
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maija-Leena Eloranta
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sergey V Kozyrev
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cristina M Lanata
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Andreas Jönsen
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Rheumatology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Rheumatology, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders A Bengtsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Rheumatology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Rheumatology, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christopher Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Svenungsson
- Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Iva Gunnarsson
- Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Joanne Nititham
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lindsey A Criswell
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lars Rönnblom
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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2
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Regulation of B Cell Responses in SLE by Three Classes of Interferons. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910464. [PMID: 34638804 PMCID: PMC8508684 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There are three classes of interferons (type 1, 2, and 3) that can contribute to the development and maintenance of various autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Each class of interferons promotes the generation of autoreactive B cells and SLE-associated autoantibodies by distinct signaling mechanisms. SLE patients treated with various type 1 interferon-blocking biologics have diverse outcomes, suggesting that additional environmental and genetic factors may dictate how these cytokines contribute to the development of autoreactive B cells and SLE. Understanding how each class of interferons controls B cell responses in SLE is necessary for developing optimized B cell- and interferon-targeted therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss how each class of interferons differentially promotes the loss of peripheral B cell tolerance and leads to the development of autoreactive B cells, autoantibodies, and SLE.
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3
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Witas R, Rasmussen A, Scofield RH, Radfar L, Stone DU, Grundahl K, Lewis D, Sivils KL, Lessard CJ, Farris AD, Nguyen CQ. Defective Efferocytosis in a Murine Model of Sjögren's Syndrome Is Mediated by Dysfunctional Mer Tyrosine Kinase Receptor. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189711. [PMID: 34575873 PMCID: PMC8466327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is a chronic autoimmune disease primarily involving the exocrine glands in which the involvement of the innate immune system is largely uncharacterized. Mer signaling has been found to be protective in several autoimmune diseases but remains unstudied in SjS. Here, we investigated the role of Mer signaling in SjS. Mer knockout (MerKO) mice were examined for SjS disease criteria. SjS-susceptible (SjSS) C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice were assessed for defective Mer signaling outcomes, soluble Mer (sMer) levels, A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) activity, and Rac1 activation. In addition, SjS patient plasma samples were evaluated for sMer levels via ELISA, and sMer levels were correlated to disease manifestations. MerKO mice developed submandibular gland (SMG) lymphocytic infiltrates, SMG apoptotic cells, anti-nuclear autoantibodies (ANA), and reduced saliva flow. Mer signaling outcomes were observed to be diminished in SjSS mice, as evidenced by reduced Rac1 activation in SjSS mice macrophages in response to apoptotic cells and impaired efferocytosis. Increased sMer was also detected in SjSS mouse sera, coinciding with higher ADAM17 activity, the enzyme responsible for cleavage and inactivation of Mer. sMer levels were elevated in patient plasma and positively correlated with focus scores, ocular staining scores, rheumatoid factors, and anti-Ro60 levels. Our data indicate that Mer plays a protective role in SjS, similar to other autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, we suggest a series of events where enhanced ADAM17 activity increases Mer inactivation and depresses Mer signaling, thus removing protection against the loss of self-tolerance and the onset of autoimmune disease in SjSS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Witas
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA;
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Astrid Rasmussen
- Genes and Human Disease Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (A.R.); (K.G.); (C.J.L.)
| | - Robert H. Scofield
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (R.H.S.); (K.L.S.); (A.D.F.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Lida Radfar
- Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, College of Dentistry, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| | - Donald U. Stone
- Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| | - Kiely Grundahl
- Genes and Human Disease Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (A.R.); (K.G.); (C.J.L.)
| | - David Lewis
- Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| | - Kathy L. Sivils
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (R.H.S.); (K.L.S.); (A.D.F.)
| | - Christopher J. Lessard
- Genes and Human Disease Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (A.R.); (K.G.); (C.J.L.)
| | - A. Darise Farris
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (R.H.S.); (K.L.S.); (A.D.F.)
| | - Cuong Q. Nguyen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA;
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
- Center of Orphaned Autoimmune Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0880, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-352-294-4180; Fax: +1-352-392-9704
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Schell SL, Bricker KN, Fike AJ, Chodisetti SB, Domeier PP, Choi NM, Fasnacht MJ, Luckenbill SA, Ziegler SF, Rahman ZSM. Context-Dependent miR-21 Regulation of TLR7-Mediated Autoimmune and Foreign Antigen-Driven Antibody-Forming Cell and Germinal Center Responses. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:2803-2818. [PMID: 34039637 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in healthy B cell responses and the loss of tolerance in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), although the role of many miRNAs remains poorly understood. Dampening miR-21 activity was previously shown to reduce splenomegaly and blood urea nitrogen levels in SLE-prone mice, but the detailed cellular responses and mechanism of action remains unexplored. In this study, using the TLR7 agonist, imiquimod-induced SLE model, we observed that loss of miR-21 in Sle1b mice prevented the formation of plasma cells and autoantibody-producing Ab-forming cells (AFCs) without a significant effect on the magnitude of the germinal center (GC) response. We further observed reduced dendritic cell and monocyte numbers in the spleens of miR-21-deficient Sle1b mice that were associated with reduced IFN, proinflammatory cytokines, and effector CD4+ T cell responses. RNA sequencing analysis on B cells from miR-21-deficient Sle1b mice revealed reduced activation and response to IFN, and cytokine and target array analysis revealed modulation of numerous miR-21 target genes in response to TLR7 activation and type I IFN stimulation. Our findings in the B6.Sle1bYaa (Sle1b Yaa) spontaneous model recapitulated the miR-21 role in TLR7-induced responses with an additional role in autoimmune GC and T follicular helper responses. Finally, immunization with T-dependent Ag revealed a role for miR-21 in foreign Ag-driven GC and Ab, but not AFC, responses. Our data suggest a potential multifaceted, context-dependent role for miR-21 in autoimmune and foreign Ag-driven AFC and GC responses. Further study is warranted to delineate the cell-intrinsic requirements and mechanisms of miR-21 during infection and SLE development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Schell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and
| | - Kristen N Bricker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and
| | - Adam J Fike
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and
| | - Sathi Babu Chodisetti
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and
| | | | - Nicholas M Choi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and
| | - Melinda J Fasnacht
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and
| | - Sara A Luckenbill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and
| | | | - Ziaur S M Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and
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5
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Dwyer CM, Nguyen LTT, Healy LM, Dutta R, Ludwin S, Antel J, Binder MD, Kilpatrick TJ. Multiple Sclerosis as a Syndrome-Implications for Future Management. Front Neurol 2020; 11:784. [PMID: 32982904 PMCID: PMC7483755 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose that multiple sclerosis (MS) is best characterized as a syndrome rather than a single disease because different pathogenetic mechanisms can result in the constellation of symptoms and signs by which MS is clinically characterized. We describe several cellular mechanisms that could generate inflammatory demyelination through disruption of homeostatic interactions between immune and neural cells. We illustrate that genomics is important in identifying phenocopies, in particular for primary progressive MS. We posit that molecular profiling, rather than traditional clinical phenotyping, will facilitate meaningful patient stratification, as illustrated by interactions between HLA and a regulator of homeostatic phagocytosis, MERTK. We envisage a personalized approach to MS management where genetic, molecular, and cellular information guides management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Dwyer
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Department, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Linda Thien-Trang Nguyen
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Department, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Luke M Healy
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ranjan Dutta
- Department of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Samuel Ludwin
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jack Antel
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michele D Binder
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Trevor J Kilpatrick
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Department, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Abstract
Tissue macrophages rapidly recognize and engulf apoptotic cells. These events require the display of so-called eat-me signals on the apoptotic cell surface, the most fundamental of which is phosphatidylserine (PtdSer). Externalization of this phospholipid is catalysed by scramblase enzymes, several of which are activated by caspase cleavage. PtdSer is detected both by macrophage receptors that bind to this phospholipid directly and by receptors that bind to a soluble bridging protein that is independently bound to PtdSer. Prominent among the latter receptors are the MER and AXL receptor tyrosine kinases. Eat-me signals also trigger macrophages to engulf virus-infected or metabolically traumatized, but still living, cells, and this 'murder by phagocytosis' may be a common phenomenon. Finally, the localized presentation of PtdSer and other eat-me signals on delimited cell surface domains may enable the phagocytic pruning of these 'locally dead' domains by macrophages, most notably by microglia of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Lemke
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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7
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Soni C, Reizis B. Self-DNA at the Epicenter of SLE: Immunogenic Forms, Regulation, and Effects. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1601. [PMID: 31354738 PMCID: PMC6637313 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-reactive B cells generated through V(D)J recombination in the bone marrow or through accrual of random mutations in secondary lymphoid tissues are mostly purged or edited to prevent autoimmunity. Yet, 10–20% of all mature naïve B cells in healthy individuals have self-reactive B cell receptors (BCRs). In patients with serologically active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) the percentage increases up to 50%, with significant self-DNA reactivity that correlates with disease severity. Endogenous or self-DNA has emerged as a potent antigen in several autoimmune disorders, particularly in SLE. However, the mechanism(s) regulating or preventing anti-DNA antibody production remain elusive. It is likely that in healthy subjects, DNA-reactive B cells avoid activation due to the unavailability of endogenous DNA, which is efficiently degraded through efferocytosis and various DNA-processing proteins. Genetic defects, physiological, and/or pathological conditions can override these protective checkpoints, leading to autoimmunity. Plausibly, increased availability of immunogenic self-DNA may be the key initiating event in the loss of tolerance of otherwise quiescent DNA-reactive B cells. Indeed, mutations impairing apoptotic cell clearance pathways and nucleic acid metabolism-associated genes like DNases, RNases, and their sensors are known to cause autoimmune disorders including SLE. Here we review the literature supporting the idea that increased availability of DNA as an immunogen or adjuvant, or both, may cause the production of pathogenic anti-DNA antibodies and subsequent manifestations of clinical disease such as SLE. We discuss the main cellular players involved in anti-DNA responses; the physical forms and sources of immunogenic DNA in autoimmunity; the DNA-protein complexes that render DNA immunogenic; the regulation of DNA availability by intracellular and extracellular DNases and the autoimmune pathologies associated with their dysfunction; the cytosolic and endosomal sensors of immunogenic DNA; and the cytokines such as interferons that drive auto-inflammatory and autoimmune pathways leading to clinical disease. We propose that prevention of DNA availability by aiding extracellular DNase activity could be a viable therapeutic modality in controlling SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetna Soni
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Boris Reizis
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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